Electromechanical record sensing device



April 28, 1953 w. G. PAIGE 2,636,676

ELECTROMECHANICAL RECORD SENSING DEVICE Filed Feb. 16, 1952 2 SHEETS--SHEET l lllIIll 'lllll I l i i FIG.2 36 M 40 t 6 i III IIIIIIIIIIII III 51 5 \Y\\\\\Y 37 A I 1 I; g A l8 I? #E' 15 I 1 GE 7 =v QZ; I5

i 5 l4 I6 .3 25/ 2 2 5 29% INVENTOR.

WALTER G. PAIGE A RNEYS April 28, 1953 w. G. PAIGE ELECTROMECHANICAL RECORD SENSING DEVICE 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 Filed Feb. 16, 1952 ooooeoooaooa INVENTOR. WALTER G. PAIGE Z QRNEYS Patented Apr. 28, .1953

ELECTROMECHANICAL RECORD SENSING DEVICE Walter 'G. Paige, Norwalk, Conn., assignor "to Remington *Rand 1110., New York, N. Y., acorporation' of Delaware ApplicationFebruary 16, 1952, Serial No. 271,909

1'!) Claims. 1

This invention relates .to a contact device adapted for operation by sensing pins such as are used in connection with perforated records.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a simple detachable contact spring formed of a single complete turn of spring wire, the end portions thereof being crossed and then formed into symmetrical straight leg portions.

Another f ature of the invention is the provision of a novel support for a series of springs which support is formed of molded insulating material and provided with recesses shaped to retain the springs.

still another feature of the invention is the provision of a relatively thin molded insulating plate for a series of contact springs, the plate being open on one side and arranged 'to be assembled in stacks of a desired number, the arrangement being such that the back of one plate serves to cover the open recesses supporting springs of the next adjacent plate. With this arrangement a set of contacts for a conventional 8d column card may be conveniently assembled, or a lesser number if desired.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in business machines, but it will be understood that it may be used with any device using punched holes for coding of information, including devices such as player pianos and control urts for automatic machinery.

Other objects and structural details of the .in-

ven'tion will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 shows in elevation a molded contact supporting plate with some contacts mounted in the recesses formed therein;

2 is an end view, partly in section of an assembly of contact supporting plates;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail portion of the insulating plate showing a pair of spring contacts, one being operated and the other unoperated; and

Figv 4 shows schematically a known Remington Rand sensing pin arrangement for operating the contacts according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to l. a dielectric plate 16 is shown with a plurality of recesses ll formed therein according to the number of sensing pins to be used therewith. In this specific embodiment the recesses are staggered alternately, vertically, for closer spacing. Each recess has a centrally located raised portion 12 formed therein having a curved depression l3 at the top for sup-1 porting a hardened roller or saddle l4 below which is a symmetrical stop section 15, Fig. 3, spaced from the sides of the recess against opposite .sides of which the legs IE of contact springs I! press when the particular contact is unoperated. When in a condition of rest, the curved upper portion l8 of the contact spring rests against a suitable curved upper surface I9 of the recess.

The springs I! are tensioned so that their legs I5 normally rest against the stop part l5 of the dielectric block I0 associaated therewith.

A pair of stationary contact strips 25 cooperate with the respective legs of each contact spring 17. These strips extend below the dielectric block l0 and terminate in soldering lugs 26 while their upper end portions extend up beyond the ends of the legs [6 of spring H.

The stationary contact strips 25 are retained in suitably shaped grooves formed between the side walls of the recess H and the lower part '29 of the raised portion l2 in the recesses. The grooves 2'1, as well as the contact strips held thereby, vary somewhat in shape depending upon whether the strips are mounted in an upper contact recess H or a lower one, in order to make it possible to space the lugs 26 uniformly.

The upper bent over portions 'of the spring legs 55 straddle the saddle l4 and when pressure is applied to the upper curved part of spring 18 the legs will spread and make wiping contact with the conducting strips 25 adjacent thereto and establish a circuit between the associated pair of contact strips. Likewise when pressure is removed from the top of spring I1, the spring is so tensioned that the legs snap back to their position of rest against block 15.

A conventional card controlled apparatus using the contact structure of the present invention will now be described to illustrate one use thereof.

Fig. 4 shows a conventional Powers or Remington Rand card sensing system including the usual card chamber formed of perforated upper and lower plates 38 and 31. A pin unit 38 of conventional design carries a number of pins 39 corresponding to the number of index points or possible holes in card 40, Fig. 3.

aesaeve 39 finding openings in the card will pass through while all others will be arrested.

Referring to Fig. 3, the left hand pin 39 is shown as having passed through an opening in the card 40 while the right hand pin under which there is no perforation is stopped by the card. The left hand pin has engaged an anvil portion l! of a rod 48 having a lower portion 49 of insulating material suitably coupled thereto which, when the rod assembly 48 is depressed by a sensing pin 39, engages the top of contact spring H and depresses the same slightly. Since the two legs of the contact spring ll straddle the saddle 14 only a slight pressure from the rod 48 is required to force the legs apart and bring them into contact with the adjacent contract strips 25 thereby establishing a circuit between the associated pair of contact strips which may be used to control external circuits. When the pin unit 39 rises and pressure is withdrawn from spring ll, the legs i6 snap back, due to their tension, to their normal position of rest against the respective sides of block I thereby breaking the circuit between the associated pair of contact strips 25.

It is obvious that the contacts 25 could well be located on portion and the pins 39 omitted. In this case, the member 4'! would act as the sensing pin and the card would be reciprocated with respect to the sensing mechanism.

The advantages of the structure just described 1 are that it can be built for very narrow spacing in accordance with the conventional index points of a standard business machine card; the springs are easily replaceable and require very little pressure for actuation; after the spring engages the associated contact strips, a definite Wiping action takes place and, furthermore, the mechanical stresses in the current carrying parts are low.

While there is above described but one embodiment of the invention, it is possible to produce still other embodiments without departure from the. inventive concept above disclosed, and it is, therefore, desired that only such limitations shall be imposed on the appended claims as are stated therein, or required by the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a contact device suitable for actuation by the sensing pins of punched record apparatus, a coil of spring wire with crossed symmetrical portions extending therefrom which terminate in generally straight leg portions, a saddle straddled by the crossed portions, an insulating actuating pin supported for endwise movement over the mid point of the coil portion of the spring effective to engage and press upon the spring and thereby in cooperation with the saddle to cause the legs of the spring to spread and contact means disposed in the path of the legs so as to be engaged thereby when the legs are in one position.

2. A contact device according to claim 1, in which the contact spring is supported in a suit- :ably shaped recess formed in molded dielectric :material.

3. A contact device according to claim 2 in which the recess in the molded material is formed with a centrally located raised portion spaced from the sides of the recess formed to support the saddle.

4. A contact device according to claim 3 in which the spring legs extend respectively into the spaces between the raised portion and the walls of the recess.

5. A contact device according to claim 4 in which the contact spring is so tensioned that when the spring is in its normal unoperated condition the spring legs rest against the raised portion clear of the sides of the recess.

6. A contact device according to claim 5 in which a pair of stationary contact strips are supported respectively in the path of movement of the spring legs by narrow channels formed generally symmetrically between a lower part of the raised central portion of the recess and the opposite walls of the recess whereby the legs of the contact spring when spread engage the contact strip adjacent thereto.

7. A contact device according to claim 6 in which the contact strips extend below the dielectric material and terminate in lugs for connection with external circuits.

8. A contact device according to claim '7 in which the dielectric material is formed in relatively thin plates corresponding in thickness to the width of a conventional business machine card column.

9. A contact device according to claim 8 in which the recesses of the dielectric plates are open on one face to provide easy access to the parts of the recesses, the plates being of such dimensions that they may be assembled in stacks corresponding to the number of columns to be sensed, the back of one plate serving as a cover for the open recesses of the next adjacent plate.

10. A contact device according to claim 9 in which the recesses in a molded plate are staggered alternately in a vertical direction to permit closer spacing of the insulated operating rods.

WALTER G. PAIGE.

No references cited. 

